Pacer (album)
Pacer is the only album by the Amps, led by Kim Deal. It was released in October 1995. The album was recorded as a side project to Kim Deal's group the Breeders. She recruited new musicians and naming the group the Amps, recorded Pacer at several studios in the US and Ireland, with different engineers, including Steve Albini, Bryce Goggin, and John Agnello.
Pacer
The album received mixed reviews. Despite radio airplay for its single, "Tipp City", Pacer did not sell well. The Amps toured in 1995 and 1996 with Sonic Youth, Guided by Voices, and Foo Fighters. In 1996, Deal changed the band's name back to the Breeders, making Pacer the Amps' only album.
Background[edit]
Kim Deal's band the Breeders released Last Splash in August 1993;[1] the album was very successful, and its release was followed by much touring.[2] The Breeders then took an extended break from activity.[2] One reason was that Deal's sister Kelley, who was also in the group, was arrested on drug charges in November 1994.[3] Member Josephine Wiggs likewise took time away from the band, although Wiggs and Deal have different memories of the circumstances surrounding this.[4] Wiggs recalls offering to be involved if Deal's next album was going to be a Breeders record, but having the impression that Deal wanted to do a solo release;[4][5] Deal remembers Wiggs declining to be part of any immediate Breeders' recording, but offering to be on the one after that.[4]
Regardless, Deal envisioned her next album as a solo effort, and intended to play all instruments herself.[6] Back at her home in Dayton, Ohio, she practiced the drums and initially prepared six songs for recording. Around the same time, she produced some tracks for Guided by Voices at Easley Studios in Memphis, Tennessee.[3] While there, Deal used a portion of the studio time to record demos for some of her new songs.[3] As an attempt to distract her sister from her drug problems, Deal recruited Kelley to play on three songs at this initial recording session.[3][6] Kelley's involvement changed Deal's mind about playing all the instruments herself, and she began to conceptualize the album as a band project.[6]
After the Easley recording session, Deal returned to Dayton.[3] She asked Breeders' drummer Jim Macpherson to play drums in the new project, and Dayton musicians Luis Lerma and Nate Farley to play bass and guitar, respectively.[3][7] Deal adopted a stage persona for herself named Tammy Ampersand, and called the band "Tammy and the Amps"; this later evolved into simply "the Amps".[6] The group began by performing at small shows,[6] and learned the songs well to prepare for recording the album.[3] At some point during the recording sessions, Kelley's drug difficulties and rehabilitation prevented her from continuing as a member of the band.[6][8]
Release[edit]
Pacer was released in late October 1995.[17][18] It was promoted with a full-page advertisement in NME in the UK,[19] where it peaked at No. 60 on the UK Albums Chart,[20] and No. 29 on the American Heatseekers Album chart.[21] "Tipp City" was released as the album's single and included an alternate version of "Empty Glasses", as well as a cover of the Tasties' "Just Like a Briar".[10] The single received some radio airplay in the USA,[22] and reached No. 61 on the UK Singles Chart,[20] but Pacer did not sell well.[6] Although Elektra pressed 300,000 copies of the album,[23] The New York Times reported in 2002 that it had sold 25,000 copies.[24] The album became prominent in second-hand shops.[23]